Even amid a summer-long crackdown on underage drinking at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, two concertgoers in their twenties died last night from a combination of booze and drugs, authorities say.
The deaths came amid “mayhem” at the all-day, heavy-metal Ozzfest that also saw 83 people arrested, according to the Star-Ledger.
Raymond Guarino, 26, of Forked River initially passed out about 3:15 p.m. but was resuscitated by paramedics and taken to Bayshore Medical Center, police said. He died there at 11:25 p.m.
Troopers were told Guarino had ingested cocaine, marijuana and alcohol prior to passing out, the State Police said. A search of the vehicle Guarino arrived at the concert in yielded small amounts of cocaine and marijuana. police said.
A second concertgoer, Patrick Norris, 24, of Coram, N.Y. passed out about 10 p.m., the State Police said. Norris was also taken to Bayshore where was pronounced dead. As with Guarino, troopers were told Norris also had injected cocaine, marijuana and alcohol before and during the show.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which owns the 17,500-seat venue, said this morning that alcohol would now be banned from the parking lot.
From the Ledger:
The Turnpike Authority has allowed people of legal drinking age to consume alcohol in the Arts Center parking lots even as police have tried to crack down on underage drinking, spokesman Joe Orlando said.
“These kids just continue to feel the rules do not apply to them,” Orlando said. “We’ve dealt with it all summer. The problem has gotten worse. Now it’s at the point where we can’t just talk about it. We have to do something.”
The alcohol ban will be in effect for the first time tonight during a concert by the rock band Velvet Revolver.
Orlando told the Associated Press that state police have arrested more than 200 people at shows at the center in past 10 days.
“We’ve tried to deal with it by enforcing the law, and people have thumbed their nose at it,” he said. “”So we’re taking the only action we can.”
The “mayhem” is apparently a reference to the arrests of 59 people for underage drinking and 30 for possession of drugs, disorderly conduct, providing alcohol to a minor, distribution of drugs, defiant trespass presenting fictitious ID or lewd behavior.
My wife and I attended the Ozzfest yesterday.
Apparently the Arts Center has been having major problems with drinking. Over 300 people were arrested this week at concerts there. O.A.R. (whoever that is) tops the charts at 90 arrest during that concert. In another story about the arts center an eleven year old kid was arrested for drinking.
This Ozzfest was no more rowdy than it is each year. Most people who were injured (I am making this up) were probably in or around the mosh pits. These are easy to avoid, but if you go in them (like I did) you are likely to get beat up a bit.
I attend concerts at PNC Bank Art Center all the time, I have since it was the Garden State Art Center. I have honestly NEVER had a bad experience or felt unsafe at any concert here and neither has my family. My husband and 15 year old son, and his friends were at Ozzfest this year and had a blast. The LOVED Lamb of God & Ozzy. Life is what you make it, you don't need to be high to have a good time. Any idiot can shoot up cocaine, smoke pot, or get drunk, you don't need to be at a concert to do that BUT where ever you do it, it IS illegal, so why is everyone surprised that there is a crack down on this type of behavior? You can have a good time without getting so wasted you can't even remember if you saw the show or not! By the way, shame on PNC for encouraging out of control teens by having a teen drop off area for parents to drop their kids. They should HAVE to have an adult with them because they are still KIDS!!! Do you know how many of these kids who get dropped off find someone to hook up with in the parking lot and then go off into the woods or in their car with them? Happens all the time while Mom & Dad back home think their little angel is just sitting in their seat watching a show because their kids would NEVER do anything like that! It's about time the State Police start cracking down….. now if they could only do something about all the Bennies that drive on our town roads like they are stilll on the parkway…. oh well, topic for another day!
I think the ban is about time- FUN at a concert is one thing dying is NOT
It doesn't bother me one bit not to drink before or during a concert- I ask all to refrain from purchasing liquor inside(I know this will never happen!I attend many concerts here and saw it getting worse- lets protect the kids and people who act like them
Remember The Turnpike G.S.P. allows people after drinking to get in there cars and drive home.
Legalize it.
My 13 year old son and I went to ozzfest…
we had a blast…needless to say….we went drug free.
Dude and Skribb
The deaths are unforunate but my friends intended to go to see Brooks and Dunn at the end of September, 14 of us, 40-50 years old, and we intending to tailgate with some alcohol and feasts, but now that has been ruined and people are backing out wanting to go, this was our last time of the summer to hang out with each other, before kids go back to school and etc. We have been to two other concerts this year, both country music, and i really think it depends on the venue just how rowdy it gets. What did they expect with free tickets and Ozzyfest, he needed to have step up security anticipating this crisis.
The deaths are unforunate but my friends intended to go to see Brooks and Dunn at the end of September, 14 of us, 40-50 years old, and we intending to tailgate with some alcohol and feasts, but now that has been ruined and people are backing out wanting to go, this was our last time of the summer to hang out with each other, before kids go back to school and etc. We have been to two other concerts this year, both country music, and i really think it depends on the venue just how rowdy it gets. What did they expect with free tickets and Ozzyfest, he needed to have step up security anticipating this crisis.
Obvioiusly these idiots are not going to stop on their own, so just let them die. In the long run we the taxpayers wont end up paying for these idiots eventual long term jail stays
Hi Charlotte,
I think you can still buy a drink once you're inside the place, it's just the hour or two in the parking lot that would be dry — you can still tailgate with your friends and food. I know that it's fun to have a drink with your friends, but are you (or mabye it's your friends) really saying that a bunch of grownups can't have a good time for a couple of hours without drinks?
Charlotte,
There were more arrests at other concerts than the Ozzfest this year.
Blaming this on the Ozzfest is ridiculous.
If you are 40 or 50 years old I am sure you and your friends can find a way to have a few drinks, and food before you get to the parking lot.
As far as just letting these idiots die, be careful about your statements. One of those idiots could be a relative of yours one day.
People who speak about drugs like you did, never see people on them right under their nose until it is too late.
How could you call them idiots. If you have never lost anyone to alchohol or drugs you are lucky. But they were someones children!
This alcohol ban had nothing to do with anything other then more lost innocense, money and more of our rights being violated. Safety police strike again! Let life runs its course and fate deliver it's promises.
Next, well probably have to wear helmets while we drive.
Helmets while we drive? Way to blow it WAY out of proportion. I'm sure it won't kill you to be sober for 2 hours at most in a parking lot of all places. In fact it might even keep you alive, but if you're that much of a drunk that you can't see why it's necessary to ban alcohol at the pre-concert tailgate parties then I suggest you stay at home to get wasted and don't bitch.
If you don't see this ban as a gross over-reaction on the part of the authorities you are blind. I am sorry ot hear about the loss of life of the two who did die, that is a horrible tragedy.
Why did these kids die, because they had cocaine, marijuana and alcohol in their systems. It wasn't the alcohol that did them in, it was the ILLEGAL DRUG USE.
Kathryn, the above example of helmets while driving is almost on par with how crazy this is. Will it kill me or anyone not to drink in the parking lot, NO. Would it be fun to tailgate and make a fun evening out of it in a safe manner without any ILLEGAL DRUGS, YES.
I have a drink maybe 3 times a month, if one of those nights happens to be while tailgating, how can you possibly call me a drunk. Overwhelming generalities are useless.
This is certainly one of the worst knee-jerk reactions I have ever seen…
actually , my son died of shock . a complication of heat exhaustion and being injured in the mosh pit. He went into cardiac arrest. he was severly dehydrated from being out in the sun and 90 degree weather for 10 hours
In memory of my son;
He judge no one but loved all:
one of those "idiots" that every one has been talking about was my older cousin pat. you people didnt know him and u have no idea who he was. he didnt deserve to die. he screwed up and made a really bad choice. something that apparently a few of u have never done. get over yourself no one deserves to die, he wasnt a bad person, and screw u the taxpayer. i hope u never have to go through what his parents went through so u can keep passing judgement and being ignorant u bastards.